Digital technologies and museums: augmented reality, learning and audience development

This study aims to establish whether new digital technologies can provide a more effective museum experience by widening the access for a greater number of visitors and triggering specific learning processes, also through a deeper engagement. To this end, a review of some significant nationally and internationally researches on the effectiveness of digital tools for museums is provided. They describe the technologies with the greatest impact in terms of audience development and knowledge dissemination. This extensive review shows evidences and findings about the possibility given by new technologies and digital and immersive environments (3D models and printing, virtual and augmented reality) to enhance the user experience in museum context. Furthermore, digital and immersive environments offer new, and so far under-explored, ways of learning, as they are able to transfer knowledge triggering the emotional involvement of the audience. Digital technologies need to be integrated into a strategic design aiming to define innovation plans, digital projects management approaches and specific guidelines for creating an effective storytelling.